Weisseck, Muhr Valley

Snowdrifts are the main problem. Slab avalanches in the snowdrifts can fracture in ground-level layers

On Monday, avalanche danger levels will continue to increase during the course of the day.

Snowdrifts are the main problem. Slab avalanches in the snowdrifts can fracture in ground-level layers

Avalanche danger above the treeline is considerable, below that altitude danger is low. Slab avalanches of medium size can in some places be triggered even by minimum additional loading, i.e. the weight of one person, especially in gullies and bowls and behind irregularities in the landscape on NW/N/SE facing slopes. In high alpine places the danger zones are possible in all aspects in gullies and bowls. In some places above 2200m they can fracture down to deeper weak layers in the old snow and thereby grow to large size. Settling noises and glide-cracks are indicators of imminent danger. Isolated naturally triggered avalanches are also possible at high altitudes. Snowdrift accumulations are difficult to recognize due to poor visibility. As a result of rain impact at intermediate altitudes, small naturally triggered wet-snow slides and glide-snow avalanches are possible.

The fresh fallen snow has been heftily transported. Inside the fresh snow and drifts, weak layers are forming near the surface (graupel and decomposed snow), bonding is generally good. Above 2000m the fresh snow and drifts have often been deposited atop faceted crystals near crusts, in some places surface hoar has been blanketed on shady, wind-protected slopes above the treeline. Deeper down inside the old snowpack fundament there are soft layers lodged between hard layers at high altitudes. At low and intermediate altitudes the old snowpack beneath the fresh fallen snow is melt-freeze encrusted. The entire snowpack can start to glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes. The fresh fallen snow has been heftily transported. Inside the fresh snow, short-lived weak layers are forming near the surface. At low and intermediate altitudes the old snowpack is generally well consolidated. Above 2000m the fresh snow and drifts are often faceted near crusts. In some places on shady wind-protected slopes above the treeline, surface hoar has formed. The entire snowpack can glide over steep rock plates or grassy slopes. The fresh fallen snow has been heftily transported. Inside the fresh snow, short-lived weak layers are forming near the surface. At high altitudes the fresh snow is falling atop a generatlly wind-compressed snowpack surface where the bonding is good. Above 2000m the fresh snow and drifts have often been deposited atop faceted crystals near crusts, in some places surface hoar has been blanketed on shady, wind-protected slopes above the treeline. On wind-protected shady slopes above the treeline there is often surface hoar. Above 2000m the snowpack layering is unfavorable, there are several weak layers of faceted crystals. The entire snowpack can glide away over steep rock places or grass-covered. slopes.

On Sunday, a warm front will pass through from the nocturnal hours. In the afternoon a cold front will follow on its heels. Visibility in the Northern Alps will be reduced from early morning, then deteriorate further in the Tauern and Nockberge during the daytime. Rainfall and snowfall are expected, the snowfall level in the morning will be at 1500m and be evening will drop to the valley floors. Fresh snow: 5-15cm. Winds (foehn) will shift in the morning to westerly-to-northwesterly, in the evening reaching windspeeds of 60 km/hr. Temperatures will drop. At 2000m: from -2 to -8 degrees; at 3000m: from -6 to -14 degrees. On Sunday night, light snowfall is anticipated.